Transferring to a different area or exchanging your home

Updated: 08 Feb 2012
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Most social housing tenants are eligible to transfer or exchange their homes
Connswater Housing Association Harland Walk
Most Housing Executive and housing association tenants are allowed to transfer from or exchange their property.

Transfers

If you are already a tenant of the Housing Executive or a housing association and you want to move, you can apply for a transfer. You will need to complete a housing/transfer application form.
Your landlord will then assess your housing needs and place you on the list for a transfer to alternative accommodation owned by any of the participating landlords within your areas of choice.
Your request for a transfer will not normally be considered where:
  • your existing tenancy is less than two years old
  • you have arrears of four weeks or more
  • the existing property is not in a good state of repair or you owe recoverable charges for repairs
  • you are guilty of any other serious breach of the tenancy conditions.

Exchanges

You may want to exchange homes with someone who has another tenancy.  If so, you should write to your landlord and ask for permission to do the exchange. Your landlord will then consider the request. Requests will normally be approved unless the landlord has good reasons not to do so - for example, a request that would lead to a home being overcrowded would not normally be approved.